A POURING AND SEALING ATTACHMENT

FIXATION ETANCHE POUR VERSER

English Abstract

A pouring attachment (3) in the form of closure for a container (2), such as a
paint can, comprising an annular ring or rim (4) and a lid (5) hinged to the
rim (4) as at (9). The container with closure (1) includes a pouring spout
(5a) which provides for easy dispensing of the contents of the container (2).
The pouring attachment (3) includes interacting sealing means (16, 17, 22, 23,
24, 25, 26 and 27) to facilitate sealing and resealing of the container,
including a spout cover (6) for the pouring spout (5a) , and camming means
(28) to enable the lid (5) to open to one of two open positions, including a
first position which facilitates drainage of the container contents back into
the can. The container with closure includes optional handle (12) and tamper-
evident sealing means. Containers incorporating such pouring attachments are
also disclosed.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une fixation pour verser (3) sous la forme d'une fermeture pour un contenant (2), tel qu'un pot de peinture, comprenant un anneau ou un rebord annulaire (4) et un couvercle (5) fixé au rebord (4) et au niveau de (9). Le contenant doté d'une fermeture (1) comprend un bec verseur (5a) qui permet une administration facile des contenus du contenant (2). La fixation pour verser (3) comprend des moyens d'étanchéité interdépendants (16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) afin de faciliter l'étanchéité et la nouvelle étanchéité du contenant, y compris une protection (6) pour le bec verseur (5a), et des moyens de verrouillage (28) afin de permettre au couvercle (5) de s'ouvrir dans l'une des deux positions d'ouverture, dont une première position qui facilite le drainage du contenu du contenant vers le pot. Le contenant dotée d'une fermeture comprend une poignée facultative (12) et des moyens d'étanchéité inviolables. L'invention concerne aussi des contenants comprenant ces fixations pour verser.

Claims

7
CLAIMS
1. A pouring attachment adapted to be mounted on an annular rim of a container
and
which receives a lid allowing sealing and re-sealing of the container with
said lid, said
pouring attachment including an outer annular rim defining an annular space or
opening and an inner circumferential wall against which the lid sealingly
abuts, and lid
retaining means for releasably securing the lid in the annular space for the
sealing and
re-sealing of the can.
2. A pouring attachment according to claim 1 wherein the lid is hingedly
attached to the
annular rim of the pouring attachment.
3. A pouring attachment according to claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as
hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
4. A container including a pouring attachment as defined in any one of the
previous
claims.
5. A container according to claim 4 substantially as hereinbefore described
and
illustrated.

Description

CA 02490917 2004-12-23
WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819
A POURING AND SEALING ATTACHMENT
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a new pouring and sealing attachment of the kind
adapted to be
mounted on a can and, more particularly, a paint can, but not limited thereto.
BACKGROUND ART
Paint can attachments are well known for a variety of purposes. There are two
broad types of
paint pouring attachments, including a clip on spout, which facilitates
pouring only, and a
decanting spout which is usually formed as part of a container lid (e.g. as
used with
automotive tints). However, they must be removed to reseal the container, and
the stacking of
containers with a spout is not possible.
Paint can attachments may also function as a brush wiper for removing excess
paint from the
brush after it has been dipped into the paint and usually also facilitates the
outpouring of paint
from the can.
However, most known attachments suffer from the disadvantage that they must be
detached
from the can to facilitate reclosing thereof which is necessary to prevent the
deterioration of
any remaining paint and to prevent the ingress of contaminants. This step is
time consuming
and can be very messy.
The prior art is represented by Australian Patent Nos. 737661 and 638039; US
Patent Nos.
4,724,979; 5,975,346 and 6,360,909; and International Patent Publication Nos.
WO 02/49931
and WO 95/15861. All of these prior art publications disclose containers with
hinged lids
which have inherent design faults which restrict their use in the sealing and
resealing of fluid
products (liquids or powders).
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative
pouring and sealing
attachment for a container, such as a paint can or other similar can, which
overcomes or at

CA 02490917 2004-12-23
WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819
2
least ameliorates the above disadvantages of the prior art, or at least
provides a clear
alternative choice for consumers.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a pouring
attachment adapted
to be mounted on an annular rim of a can and which receives a lid allowing
sealing and re-
sealing of said can with said lid, said pouring attachment including an outer
annular rim
defining an annular space and inner circumferential wall against which lid
sealingly abuts and
lid retaining means for releasably securing the lid in the annular space for
sealing and
resealing of the can. The invention also relates to containers which include a
pouring
attachment of the type described.
The lid is a purpose-built lid for the pouring attachment, ideally integrally
moulded therewith
from solvent-resistant plastics material. Preferably, the lid is hinged to the
can in such a
manner that it hinges from the closed position to the open positions) with the
aid of an inbuilt
cam and cam follower means. This is preferably supplemented by one or more
other clips
peripherally spaced abut the rim of the pouring attachment to securely hold
the lid in sealing
engagement with the rim of the pouring attachment.
Preferably, the lid includes means whereby the lid may be propped open
substantially
perpendicular (from about 80° to about 90° to the plane of the
outer rim of the pouring
attachment, to facilitate self draining of paint from the underside of the lid
back into the main
paint container.
Preferably, the outer rim of the pouring attachment incorporates a forwardly
or outwardly
extending pouring spout and a brush-wipe edge extending radially inwardly
towards the
central annular space of the pouring attachment.

CA 02490917 2004-12-23
WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819
3
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying
drawings relating
to some non-limiting embodiments of the invention:-
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container, such as a paint can,
according to one
embodiment of the present invention wherein the upper end closure of the can
includes a pouring attachment with integral spout and a hinged lid for
sealing/
re-sealing of the container, and hinged lid retaining clips. The peripheral
groove on
the upper outer surface of the lid facilitates stackability or nesting;
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the container of Fig. 1 with the lid
hinged in the open
position;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectioned side elevational view of the container of Fig. 2,
with the lid in the
open position;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectioned side elevational view of the container of Fig. l,
with the lid in the
closed position;
FIG. 5 is a top plan or top elevational view of upper end closure of Figs. 1-
4, with the lid
hinged fully open;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the closure of Fig. 5;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectioned side elevational view of the closure of Fig. 6;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectioned side elevational view through the hinge of Fig. 5;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectioned elevational view through a typical
section of the upper
rim of the container and upper end closure in the closed position.

CA 02490917 2004-12-23
WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819
4
FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation view through a section of the
upper rim of
the container with the upper end closure hinged in the open position.
FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of two containers according to an embodiment
of the
invention, demonstrating vertical stackability.
In the drawings, the following legend applies to the use of reference
numerals.
LEGEND
1. Container with closure
(e.g. paint can)
2. Container
3. Upper end closure
4. Annular rim
5. Lid
Sa. Pouring spout
6. Spout cover
7. Clip
8. Clip engagement lug
9. Hinge
10. Annular groove
11. Base rim
12. Handle
13. Handle hinge
14. Upper face of lid (with
brand logo)
15. Annular opening
16. Inner rim
17. Sealing flange
18. Draining rim of flange

CA 02490917 2004-12-23
WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819
19. Paint drops
20. Rolled lip
21. Lid held in draining position
22. Sealing flange for spout
on lid
5 23. Sealing flange or rim on
spout
24. Sealing extension on lid
for spout
25. Sealing rib
26. Sealing face
27. Flexible seal
28. Lamming surface
29. Lid engagement means (open
position)
30. Nesting engagement ramps
This embodiment is preferably a one piece plastic moulding incorporating the
lid, a two stage
hinge (which doubles as a hold-down clip) and the sealing/pouring spout. It
features three
positive action clips which could include a tamper-evident seal. An optional
handle is
provided, which folds up for use in carrying the container, and which may be
folded down to
either the spout side or to the opposite side of the container when not in
use.
The components of the pouring attachment are suitably fabricated by standard
injection
moulding techniques.
Some of the main features and benefits of the invention may perhaps be
conveniently
summarized as follows:
~ easy controlled pouring - no drips or runs down the side of the can;
~ paint is not trapped in the rim of the can - the sealing edge is self-
draining;
~ large opening to allow proper stirnng, mixing and the use of large brushes;
~ self-draining straight-edge for controlled brush wiping;
~ interlocks when stacking cans on top of each other (palette, retail-display
or at home);
~ lid is locked positively into position by two clips - does not rely on
friction;

CA 02490917 2004-12-23
WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819
6
~ does not increase palette footprint;
~ provides a self-draining seat for the lid while in use;
~ integrated cover or lid prevents contact and dirt ingress to all surfaces
covered with
paint;
~ works with paint tins with handles;
~ does not rust and is solvent resistant;
~ resilient construction retains shape even when dropped
Although the invention has been described with reference to paint containers
it is not limited
thereto. The invention is also suitable for the packaging of other fluid
products, including
both liquids and powders. The invention is also adaptable to the packaging of
other products
in general.
Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown and
described, it will be
apparent to those having ordinary skills in the art that a number of changes,
modifications or
alterations to the invention described herein may be made, none of which
depart from the
spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and
alterations should
therefore be seen as being with the scope of the present invention.
It should be apparent that the present invention provides a substantial
advance in the field of
container manufacture, providing all of the herein-described advantages
without incurring any
relative disadvantages.

Representative Drawing